Regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operations in the Near East
This cooperative agreement funds training and equipment to improve explosive ordnance disposal, counter-IED, and post-blast investigation capabilities for security forces in Iraq, Lebanon, and GCC member states.
⚑ Open to U.S. and foreign nonprofits, educational institutions, for-profits, PIOs, and governmental institutions. · Primary purpose is foreign security-force capacity building, not research.
Unit fits — one characterization, each unit's own rules
| IPPRA | 40 partial | portfolio topics: national_security_defense, emergency_disaster_resilience (primary); social/behavioral work is none; funds training education, not research (capped); capped at 40 (non-research funding) |
| Physical Sciences & Engineering (demo) | 40 partial | technical depth: substantial; funds training education (capped) |
| Tom Love Innovation Hub | 25 weak | prototyping/demonstration stage; deep-tech content |
Description
Following Iran's widespread use of ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) throughout the Near East region during the 2026 conflict, there remains a significant and persistent risk of unexploded ordnance (UXO) falling into the hands of malign actors who could repurpose these materials to carry out attacks against U.S. facilities, critical infrastructure, and civilian soft targets, a phenomenon known as “explosive harvesting.” The proliferation of UXO, combined with the technical sophistication of Iranian-origin explosive materials, presents an acute threat to regional stability and U.S. national security interests.
The Bureau of Counterterrorism (CT) of the U.S. Department of State announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to provide specialized explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), counter improvised explosive device (C-IED), and post-blast investigation training and equipment to security forces in Iraq, Lebanon, and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates). This program will strengthen the capabilities of foreign governments, including Iraqi security forces, Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF), Lebanese Internal Security Forces (ISF), and GCC member state security services, to identify, render safe, disarm, and properly dispose of UXO and other explosive materials. The program will also enhance post-blast investigation capabilities to support attribution efforts and prosecution of perpetrators who attempt to weaponize these materials. This project will safeguard against attacks being carried out against U.S. facilities and soft targets using these materials.
Eligibility
U.S. and foreign not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
U.S. and foreign public and private educational institutions
U.S. and foreign for-profit organizations
Public International Organizations (PIOs) and Governmental institutions
Apply
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